7 answers
Tsion
Student
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3
Questions
Updated
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What advice would you give to a first-year undergrad student in health sciences who wants to pursue medical school in the near future?
This advice could be in terms of school and also personal things that we should fulfill like volunteering and internships that would help me best with pursuing #healthcare #college #medical #doctor #medicine my career
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7 answers
Yasemin G.
Aspiring physician
635
Answers
Updated
Yasemin’s Answer
Hi Tsion! First of all best of luck, both in college and this path!
I would recommend first of all to do well in your classes as GPA is crucial to being a competitive applicant. That being said study well and devote your time to your classes, you want to maintain A to B minus averages to get a pretty solid GPA and avoid C's. However if you do obtain a C it is not the end of the world. It is important to be responsible in the classes you are taking but not over stress to where your physical or mental health can suffer.
Meet up/pick a premed adviser. You will be spending a lot of time with this individual as they will help in guiding you on this path. Sometimes your adviser for your major can also be a premed adviser so ask and see, if not you can definitely have two advisers- one for your major- and one for the premed path.
Experience for medical schools is important. Med schools advise you to obtain volunteering experience and shadowing a physician. Now you don't have to enroll in every opportunity because it is quality not quantity for med school. Let's say you are a volunteer tutor and you also volunteer in a nursing home but you end up doing this all throughout college, med schools will see this in your application and like that you are committed to a couple activities over a long duration. Shadowing a physician is also important as it can let you know how they work with patients and get a glimpse of the reality of the medical world. You can ask your premed adviser for advice on where to shadow a physician, check out a health careers program if they have one at your campus and also look on AAMC.org. It is a very helpful site in navigating pre-meds especially with questions about obtaining experience.
Research is also helpful in medical school applications, and as an undergrad it can broaden your horizons. Some professors that teach science classes also offer research opportunities and you can be a part of it and work in the lab with them. It will give you experience and help obtain a recommendation letter for the future as your relationship will be more established with your professor.
Hobbies/activities: Remember to do the things you love! Just because you're a premed your life for the next four years does not have to be solely related to the medical field. Medical schools love the diversity, so if you play a sport, an instrument or participate in reading challenges over the summer that's perfect too. Why? It's good to be a well-rounded applicant and have open-mindedness as well!
Schedule: When I was in college it was very important to know what classes I needed to take and how to complete them in time. So with many sciences classes they build off of each other, it's good to start early because for example you need to take Gen Chem I before Gen Chem II. So therefore you need time to adjust your schedule to take your classes and check off the requirements for medical school. In addition you want to take the MCAT in a timely manner as well, most premeds do take it their junior year as the application process takes time. For example, if you want to start medical school right after college then it is advisable to plan to take the MCAT junior year, apply that summer of junior year going into senior year and do interviews senior year. Remember though this is an important exam, MCAT and GPA are important factors for med schools to decide if they want you, that's why it's important to do well on the MCAT. I would advise to complete all prereqs before taking the MCAT especially Biochemistry. You want to really have a nice full semester in these hard sciences and then refresh them for the MCAT instead of learning from scratch. Some students do that, which is fine but it is also another thing to navigate on your own, and studying for the MCAT to be honest is enough without having to learn a new subject.
Also as a final note, these can be subject to change for every student. Each student has different responsibilities and if you don't begin medical school right after college or want to take a gap year and strengthen your application, that is completely okay. Some individuals work or have had setbacks and they take some time off or reapply and that's okay too. The medical field is full of diversity and although it can be nice to start off med school right after college, it is completely okay with also waiting and applying when you feel your application is in order. The med school path and becoming a physician is great but remember to relax and keep your own health in order as well and don't let the stress of having every minute planned to the best hinder your well-being.
Best of luck!!
https://students-residents.aamc.org
I would recommend first of all to do well in your classes as GPA is crucial to being a competitive applicant. That being said study well and devote your time to your classes, you want to maintain A to B minus averages to get a pretty solid GPA and avoid C's. However if you do obtain a C it is not the end of the world. It is important to be responsible in the classes you are taking but not over stress to where your physical or mental health can suffer.
Meet up/pick a premed adviser. You will be spending a lot of time with this individual as they will help in guiding you on this path. Sometimes your adviser for your major can also be a premed adviser so ask and see, if not you can definitely have two advisers- one for your major- and one for the premed path.
Experience for medical schools is important. Med schools advise you to obtain volunteering experience and shadowing a physician. Now you don't have to enroll in every opportunity because it is quality not quantity for med school. Let's say you are a volunteer tutor and you also volunteer in a nursing home but you end up doing this all throughout college, med schools will see this in your application and like that you are committed to a couple activities over a long duration. Shadowing a physician is also important as it can let you know how they work with patients and get a glimpse of the reality of the medical world. You can ask your premed adviser for advice on where to shadow a physician, check out a health careers program if they have one at your campus and also look on AAMC.org. It is a very helpful site in navigating pre-meds especially with questions about obtaining experience.
Research is also helpful in medical school applications, and as an undergrad it can broaden your horizons. Some professors that teach science classes also offer research opportunities and you can be a part of it and work in the lab with them. It will give you experience and help obtain a recommendation letter for the future as your relationship will be more established with your professor.
Hobbies/activities: Remember to do the things you love! Just because you're a premed your life for the next four years does not have to be solely related to the medical field. Medical schools love the diversity, so if you play a sport, an instrument or participate in reading challenges over the summer that's perfect too. Why? It's good to be a well-rounded applicant and have open-mindedness as well!
Schedule: When I was in college it was very important to know what classes I needed to take and how to complete them in time. So with many sciences classes they build off of each other, it's good to start early because for example you need to take Gen Chem I before Gen Chem II. So therefore you need time to adjust your schedule to take your classes and check off the requirements for medical school. In addition you want to take the MCAT in a timely manner as well, most premeds do take it their junior year as the application process takes time. For example, if you want to start medical school right after college then it is advisable to plan to take the MCAT junior year, apply that summer of junior year going into senior year and do interviews senior year. Remember though this is an important exam, MCAT and GPA are important factors for med schools to decide if they want you, that's why it's important to do well on the MCAT. I would advise to complete all prereqs before taking the MCAT especially Biochemistry. You want to really have a nice full semester in these hard sciences and then refresh them for the MCAT instead of learning from scratch. Some students do that, which is fine but it is also another thing to navigate on your own, and studying for the MCAT to be honest is enough without having to learn a new subject.
Also as a final note, these can be subject to change for every student. Each student has different responsibilities and if you don't begin medical school right after college or want to take a gap year and strengthen your application, that is completely okay. Some individuals work or have had setbacks and they take some time off or reapply and that's okay too. The medical field is full of diversity and although it can be nice to start off med school right after college, it is completely okay with also waiting and applying when you feel your application is in order. The med school path and becoming a physician is great but remember to relax and keep your own health in order as well and don't let the stress of having every minute planned to the best hinder your well-being.
Best of luck!!
Yasemin recommends the following next steps:
Thank You, Yasemin, this is very helpful information!
Tsion
Estelle Archer
Gynecologist
1322
Answers
United States
Updated
Estelle’s Answer
I agree with Rachel. Keep your GPA up, and start studying for the MCAT early. My son used Exam Krackers review book series. If your GPA and MCAT scores are high, your application will survive the first set of cuts.
Richard A.
physician
2153
Answers
Updated
Richard’s Answer
Pick a major that interests you so you don't mind devoting a majority of your hours to studying. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.
Try to find opportunities to pursue research.
Volunteer at your local hospital or low-income clinic. Ask physicians, PAs or other clinical providers if you can shadow them.
During college study for and complete the MCAT. Devote an entire summer to studying for the MCAT and consider paying for a prep course if you can afford it.
My son used MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review 2019-2020: Online + Book + 3 Practice Tests (Kaplan Test Prep) Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep
Sold by: Amazon.com Services, Inc
It was about $140 and he achieved his goal score.
Try to find opportunities to pursue research.
Volunteer at your local hospital or low-income clinic. Ask physicians, PAs or other clinical providers if you can shadow them.
During college study for and complete the MCAT. Devote an entire summer to studying for the MCAT and consider paying for a prep course if you can afford it.
My son used MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review 2019-2020: Online + Book + 3 Practice Tests (Kaplan Test Prep) Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep
Sold by: Amazon.com Services, Inc
It was about $140 and he achieved his goal score.
Thanks, Richard, this is very helpful information!
Tsion
Rachel Weinheimer
Surgeon
1121
Answers
Amarillo, Texas
Updated
Rachel’s Answer
The best advice I can give is keep your GPA up. Aim for better than a 3.8 with all A's in pre-med classes. These are not completely necessary, but very helpful in getting in to med school.
Thank you, Rachel this is crucial information and one I plan to adhere to within my personal educational career.
Tsion
Thomas Petroff D.O., F.A.C.O.O.G
Chief Medical Officer
19
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Thomas’s Answer
Find a doctor to be a mentor and really let you know what it is like to be a doctor and I would also do volunteer work at a hospital to get real world experience
Michelle Le
Physician Assistant Student
7
Answers
Summerfield, Florida
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hi, Tsion! It's a great field to pursue, and you'll need to employ determination, focus, and a strong work ethic to successfully achieve your goals. Here are a few tips that will boost your application:
(1) maintain the highest GPA you are able to
(2) get experience in and out of the healthcare field: volunteer, work, internship, shadow, clubs, leadership, etc.
(3) reflect and really figure out your mission, values, and goals. what about this field attracts you?
(4) major in a subject that truly interests you. this will increase your chances of success
(5) research schools that you may be interested in applying to and make sure you are on the path of meeting all their requirements
(6) map out each semester and year of college you have left.
(7) pay attention and study hard in all of your classes. the material will appear again once you have to take the MCAT
(8) remember to always take care of your mental and physical health. you cannot succeed without your health
Good luck! You'll do great!
(1) maintain the highest GPA you are able to
(2) get experience in and out of the healthcare field: volunteer, work, internship, shadow, clubs, leadership, etc.
(3) reflect and really figure out your mission, values, and goals. what about this field attracts you?
(4) major in a subject that truly interests you. this will increase your chances of success
(5) research schools that you may be interested in applying to and make sure you are on the path of meeting all their requirements
(6) map out each semester and year of college you have left.
(7) pay attention and study hard in all of your classes. the material will appear again once you have to take the MCAT
(8) remember to always take care of your mental and physical health. you cannot succeed without your health
Good luck! You'll do great!
S Grover
Service
7
Answers
Naperville, Illinois
Updated
S’s Answer
Having some first-hand exposure helps. It could be in the form of internships (paid or unpaid) or volunteering or part-time jobs. (But make sure to not lose sight of the learning objective - happens to many people when they see some cash flowing in). If the exposure (e.g. at a Doctor office) is directly connected to what you have theoretically learnt or will be learning soon, helps connect the links and stays with you for a long time. And med school is a long journey. As a Health Sciences student you likely have access to some common courses - make sure to take those while you prep yourself for the Med school test.
Alright, thanks so much for the advice!
Tsion